Dozens of new table games crash and burn in Nevada casinos each year, but Las Vegas local Mark Brown has figured out how to market his company’s new versions of one of gaming’s top performers: poker.

Brown is CEO of Zen Gaming, a gaming company that has introduced No River Hold’em and Royal Hold’em, both based on the wildly successful Texas hold’em game. Zen Gaming’s poker games are now being played in poker rooms at Treasure Island and the Hard Rock Hotel.

Rather than slowly building name recognition and popularity in Native American casinos or properties in states with less restrictions than Nevada, Brown decided to take on the gaming mecca and first obtain approval in the Silver State. Zen Gaming’s strategy paid off; both No River Hold’em and Royal Hold’em were approved for play this year.

Last month, Zen Gaming took over free poker website NLOP.com, through which the company is offering its new poker games. Brown told the Las Vegas Business Press that the website promotes online play and encourages Las Vegas visitors to try the games in person.

“It’s all about awareness and education,” Brown told the newspaper. “Someone playing our games at the Treasure Island can continue to play them when they go home. Also, someone who has played the game on the site now knows where to find the games in Las Vegas.”

By GGB Staff

Staff writers for Global Gaming Business magazine. Las Vegas, Nevada.